How can you tell when a lamp was made?

Most manufacturers also place nameplates, stamps or a sticker at the bottom of the lamp. The condition of the cord and plug also reveals if the lamp was manufactured during the first half of the 1900s.

How can you tell if a lamp is a Stiffel?

Pick up the lamp and look for a manufacturer’s symbol, name or date stamp embedded into the base. Also look on the lighting fixture itself; sometimes, the manufacturer includes a sticker that includes the name, or date of manufacture. Are Stiffel lamps valuable?

Where can I find the age of a lamp?

You can find information at your local library or even online (see Resources). Determine the age of the lamp. Most lamps will have markings on the bottom of the lamp telling you the date with letters, numbers or certain types of graphics. Usually these graphics are logos that pertain to the manufacturer.

Where does the electricity go in a table lamp?

At its most basic form, a table lamp is a simple electrical circuit made of a bulb socket, a conductive cord, and a power plug. Electricity travels through the brass in the plug, into the conductor’s hot wire, reaches the alloys in the bulb through the socket, and then returns via the neutral wire.

How can you tell when a table lamp was made?

Have a magnifying glass handy; often the marks are very small. If the bottom of the base is covered with felt, lift the felt gently to look for signs of the lamp’s maker. It’s also possible that the shade of your lamp was replaced somewhere along the line, so the lamp base and shade may not be an original pair.

How to identify marks of a Stiffel lamp?

Stiffel lamps often contain a foil signature decal on the bottom of the lamp’s metal or high-quality wood base. Look for “Stiffel Lamp Company,” “SLC” or “Stiffel” on the decal or etched into the bottom of the lamp’s base.

How can you tell the age of a lamp?

Determine the age of the lamp. Most lamps will have markings on the bottom of the lamp telling you the date with letters, numbers or certain types of graphics. Usually these graphics are logos that pertain to the manufacturer.

How to tell if you have a lamp that is worth money?

Search for manufacturing clues on the lampshade, if the lamp has one. Don’t assume, however, that the base and shade came as a pair. You may have a valuable shade on a worthless base. Inspect each part of the lamp carefully before making any decisions about value.